Effects of short peptides on thymocyte blast transformation and signal transduction along the sphingomyelin pathway.

Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine2002PMID: 12420072

Animal StudyEpitalon

Plain Language Summary

Researchers compared the immune-modulating effects of three short peptides on mouse thymus cells. Vilon showed the strongest ability to stimulate immune cell proliferation and activate the sphingomyelin signaling pathway, while Epitalon had a moderate effect and Cortagen showed no such activity.

Abstract

Immunomodulating effects of synthetic peptides Vilon (Lys-Glu), Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), and Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) and possible involvement of the sphingomyelin signal transduction pathway in their effects in mouse thymocytes were studied. Vilon produced the most potent comitogenic effect on thymocyte proliferation and modulated comitogenic activity of interleukin-1b. Epithalon was less potent, while Cortagen produced no such effects. Vilon produced a more pronounced stimulatory effect on sphingomyelinase activity in mouse thymocyte membranes compared to Epithalon and Cortagen.

Authors

Khavinson, V Kh; Rybakina, E G; Malinin, V V; Pivanovich, I Yu; Shanin, S N; Korneva, E A